Deacs fall in ACC title game on controversial goal
By Jim Gleitman
Old Gold and Black Reporter

Vince Lombardi once said, “It is essential to understand that battles are primarily won in the hearts of men.”

On Nov. 4 it was hard for the Demon Deacon field hockey team to see their chance at upsetting Maryland, the top seed in the ACC, slip away, especially when the loss came on a disputed goal.

After knocking off UNC in overtime 3-2 on Nov. 2, the stage was set for the Deacons and Terrapins to battle for the 2001 ACC championship trophy. However, on this day it was not to be as the Deacs fell to the Terrapins 3-2 in a battle of supremacy.

The Deacs walked onto the field for the championship tilt with a sense of purpose, going through their routines in a focused and professional manner.

The Terrapins wanted to continue their dominance and win their fourth straight ACC title; the Deacs wanted to make history and win their first.

It was Maryland that drew blood first at the 24:48 mark when Carissa Messimer scored off a penalty corner from Sara Silvetti.

The Demon Deacons, however, were not to be pushed around, answering the challenge with 8:53 remaining when senior forward Jennie Shelton collected a rebound during a penalty corner and found the back of the net.

The Deacs quickly added to the assault just three minutes later as junior Heather Aughinbaugh found a rebound off a penalty corner and put it past the goalkeeper to put the Deacs up 2-1.

Tough defense by both teams left the score at 2-1 in favor of the Deacs heading into halftime.

The Terrapins came out in the second half and evened the score at two when Messimer tipped a shot from Autumn Welsh into the roof of the net at the 26:44 mark. The next 20 minutes were a tug of war as neither team could get a goal or the edge.
However, with 4:11 left on the clock, Maryland was awarded the tournament’s most important goal, and its most controversial, giving the Terps the lead and, essentially, the win.

On the play, Maryland’s Caroline Walter sent the ball in towards the net from outside the circle and Dina Rizzo apparently redirected it into the net. Demon Deacon head coach Jennifer Averill protested the goal on two different grounds.

First, she contended that the shot left the ground, in which case it should have been called dead immediately, no matter what happened afterwards.

Second, Averill contended that the ball never touched anyone before it hit off sophomore goalkeeper Katie Ridd’s foot and in to the goal as she slid on the ground.

If this was true, the goal again should have been disallowed, since the rules require that a shot from outside the circle must touch the stick of an offensive player before entering the net for the goal to stand.

The referees deliberated after the call, but decided the goal would stand, giving Maryland the lead and later the win.

Regardless of the decision, it is important to note the character of the Deacs. Considering the magnitude of this game for the seniors and Averill’s program, they handled themselves with class afterwards. Tears were clearly being held back, but their heads were held high as they loaded the bus.

“It was a tremendous match and both teams fought hard,” Averill said. “We played a great game of hockey, but there are no guarantees. The score doesn’t reflect it, but we won a battle today.”

On the field of battle the Deacs were dominating most areas, save for the final score, as they registered eight penalty corners to Maryland’s two. They forced the Terps to play at their highest level of hockey and proved they are a team to be feared. “We stuck to our game plan and put Maryland under a tremendous amount of pressure,” Averill said. “We forced them to play at the top of their game.”

Sophomore Lucy Shaw, Aughinbaugh, and Cameron were named to the All-ACC tournament team after the game. Highlighted by these awards, the Deacs’ talent was evident in this contest as they pushed Maryland to its limits and, in retrospect, dominated the Terrapins through most of the game. Also, earlier in the week, four Deacons were selected to the all-ACC team at the banquet on Nov. 1. Senior Jemima Cameron, juniors Maria Whitehead and Aughinbaugh and sophomore Kelly Doton were selected to the team. Cameron was also voted ACC co-player of the year along with Maryland’s Autumn Welsh.

There is still the national title to play for, and if you think the Deacs are going to lie down after this disappointing loss, guess again. When asked about having to go back and practice this week for the upcoming regional Aughinbaugh simply said, “I don’t think we are going to have a problem.” This team knows it’s one of the best, and losing in the fashion they did against the No. 2 team serves as motivation for the NCAAs. “It makes you want to play even more,” Shelton said. “It makes you realize how good of a team we are, we know what we can do. We are headed for that national title.”

The road to Kent, Ohio, for the National Championship begins in Kentner Stadium against Ohio at 11:00 a.m. on Nov. 10. The winner will play the winner of the Ohio St.-Virginia match up.